Ken Casellas | PACEPIX
Wanneroo owner-trainer Debbie Padberg produced a quinella result when Rockability ($24.70) and Sugar Street ($9.50) fought out a tight finish to the 2536m Event Parking Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with Rockability prevailing by a head, and the remainder of the field trailing many lengths farther back.
Mrs Padberg, who paid $20,000 for Rockability at the 2021 APG Perth yearling sale, has been rewarded with her patience with the five-year-old Rockability, who now has earned $51,418 from five wins and eleven placings from 40 starts.
Rockability had one start as a two-year-old, at Gloucester Park as a two-year-old in February 2022 before being off the scene for 17 months.
“It took a long time to get him going,” explained Mrs Padberg. “He had an underdeveloped pedal bone in his near foreleg, and it took a lot of care to get him to the racetrack.”
Shannon Suvaljko used Rockability’s excellent gate speed to get to an early lead which he surrendered after 150m to Sugar Street, who had begun speedily from out wide at barrier nine.
Sugar Street, driven by Emily Suvaljko, set a solid pace before he was headed narrowly by Rockability with about 140m to travel. The stablemates remained locked together in the home straight, with Rockability gaining the verdict in the photo finish.
Cordero, the $2.25 favourite from barrier six, was beaten for early speed and then had to work in the breeze before wilting to finish fifth.
Rockability is by Rock N Roll Heaven and is the fourth foal out of Mach Three mare Adaptability, who managed three placings from 24 starts before being retired to the breeding barn.
Rockability’s elder half-sister Our Star Billing has earned $72,673 from seven wins and ten placings from 51 starts. The point of her career was her fourth placing behind Bettor Beach Belle in the Group 1 Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies in June 2021.